Meth addict or drug addict? What's the
difference?

Leprechaun

Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?Someone please explain to me the
difference between a meth addict and a drug addict, I often see
the word meth addict but rarely see drug addict, in my 25 years
of using I used meth, heroin, coke, acid, pot, etc, etc. I
sometimes get the feeling that the so called meth addict thinks
that their addiction is so much different than drug addiction.
As the church lady would say isn't that special, some seem to
think as long as their not doing meth any other mood altering
substance is fair game. Just curious folks.

Replies...

Rachel
sue76

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?Hey Lep,
Good to see you. I guess that maybe "meth addict" would mean
that meth is the main drug of choice.

Quote:in my 25 years of using I used meth,
heroin, coke, acid, pot, etc, etc..

In all the time that my husband has done
drugs, not 25 years but close, he has used what ever there was
to offer. But, meth is what really got a hold of him. But, he is
an addict over all. If it can be abused, he has abused it. Meth
is just his favorite drug of choice. Know what I mean?

Penel0pe

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?I'm a drug addict. Meth was the
drug that brought me to my knees - but if it wasn't for meth,
something else would have brought me there, of that I am sure.

I can't get high without consequences, I can't get high and then
stop when I'm "Done" because once I start, I'M NEVER DONE.

The only way I have found to stay clean is not to get high in
the first place.

And since this is a meth recovery forum, and my last bought in
hell was with meth, for semantics I say I am a meth addict.

Sfj

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?I agree with the others to a
large degree.

1. This is a meth forum and we are asked to keep our topics focused on that subject.

2. The difference between meth addiction and drug
addiction is about the same as the difference between an apple
and a fruit. One is a subset of the other. The former is a
subset of the latter.

3. So if I were to eat a peach, I could say that I'm not
eating an apple.

But I truly believe that not all addictions are the same. I
realize that is an unpopular opinion around here. I have friends
with gambling addictions. I don't think they are the same as
opiate addictions. The solution to the problem is often very
similar though.

Leprechaun

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference? No offence Jaye but I never smoked a deck of cards to get high I
said drugs. So comparing a gambling addiction to drug addiction
is a little off base, and I am more than sure if a gambling
addict came here for help he would be sent away from here, with
a few snickers and a few wtf's because there addiction just
doesn't measure up to meth. And I'm sure people say that
isn't true but in reality we know it is true.

missybuns

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?I get the same feeling when i
see (or read) meth addicts who have substituted one substance
for another. I wouldn't call it recovery or clean...but that's
my opinion.

To me my drug of choice was MORE or YOURS...i did my share of
meth for many years....but let me assure you the only reason why
i didn't try specific substances is because it was never offered
to me directly to sample. If it'd change me and it was somehow
euphoric...i'd try it. Especially if there was not anything else
to use.

Using is a symptom of my disease. Drugs aren't the nature of my
problem....my problem is ME. My recovery is an INSIDE job.

I am truly grateful I have been blessed with knowing that meth
isn't special...it's just another substance to try and control
feelings.

At this site we have meth in common. But i think any addict or
any loved one fits in here, it's all about addiction here.

For those who may think that meth addiction is somehow different
from drug addiction and that it's ok to continue using other
mind/mood altering substances, let me assure you that you will
find out what "progressive" means first hand. Let's hope your
loved ones don't find out what "fatal" has to do with it before
you accept yourself.

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?An addict is an addict to be
sure.
A car is a car also. But a Toyota sure ain't no Ferrari.

Lep, a drug addict is a drug addict to be sure also, but there's
a great difference between a heroin addict and a meth addict.

Can you imagine what would happen if a medical doctor tried to
treat them the same? What if he prescribed methadone to the meth
addict? I don't think so

Other drugs also have different treatment protocols. I think we
short-change the recovery community when we buy into the
antiquated notion that all drugs are the same.

The old models used by those treating alcoholism are being
revised - Thank God.

For quite some time, rehabs were using methods developed for
crack addicts when trying to treat tweakers. Only recently and
only in a limited number of locations are counselors being
trained to address the unique problems of meth addiction.

Guene

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?So please are you saying that if
someone came here and asked for help and it wasn't meth, but
another drug he or she would be turned away, because this site
is only about meth??? SFJ, I'm just wondering here, I mean this
is something I wasn't aware of.

you get where I'm going?
i am an addict, an addict to me when i was using meant someone
who was hanging out feigning for drugs...
i don't do either of those things anymore but I'm still an
addict...
i have the thinking patterns of an addict...
i have the behaviors of an addict...i would agree lep that the
reason people use the term "meth addict" here is because its a
meth specific forum, and not all the people here are 12 steppers
like us...

i agree that someone who says they are "clean" just because they
don't use meth are kidding them selves...but if that is what
works for people that's ok..
"clean" means NO mood or mind altering substances...
abstinence from one drug (meth) is simply abstinence from
meth....

JMO

forget
suzette

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?

Quote:But I truly believe that not all
addictions are the same.

I totally agree with a twist.

.....I think heroin addiction, booze, coke, and meth are
different EXPERIENCES. people are wired differently (pun)
...I can't hold up a conversation on heroin, or gambling,
addictions...........they are different....but a problem.
they are TEMPTATION.
.....like cake is mine and cookies might be yours. they
taste different, but go the same direction.....resisting
temptation...is the issue. I can sit in beer world...and
never think twice...I hate booze...and heroin, and coke....but
METH ...is a real problem for me. I can have all the booze
I want! ...........because.....I hate booze! I don't want ANY!
if I liked it I'd have to quit.

NoMore
4Me

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?I can quit the booze, pot, and
the dope. I can't quit the cigarettes... or won't.
If I get drunk, I want to do dope... speed of any kind and
heroin too.
I don't care for meth, but I'll do it. To me, it's too intense,
but I'll still do it, if I relapse. I'm a fien. I've
heard of people relapsing after 20 years clean.
That's where I pray I'll never go, so I'm continually learning
about the things that set me back, first emotionally... because
that's what causes me to want to drink or do dope. By dope, I
mean what will go into a rig.

Hope that helped.

Leprechaun

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?So if you were in the desert and
needed water but found orange juice you wouldn't drink it to
meet your needs.

Peace

P.S Please don't tell me this is an issue of survival because we
all know that addicts in active addiction ultimately needs their
junk to survive.

missybuns

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?The way I understand it....it
doesn't matter what or how much we use, as addicts it is our
REACTION to drugs (any mood/mind altering drugs)

Gratefully Recovering,
Missybuns

Paws
from hell

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?The addict is the problem,
stated: the addiction
The meth, cocaine, heroin, booze, etc. is the symptom.
And the symptom must be removed before one can work on the
problem.

kell

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?

Quote:So if you were in the desert and
needed water but found orange juice you wouldn't drink it to
meet your needs.

That is comparing apples to oranges.
(juice)

There are certain drugs that I have absolutely zero interest in.
If they were offered and they have been before I have no problem
whatsoever saying NO!

Now meth is an entirely different story......

forget
suzette

Re: Meth addict or drug addict? What's the difference?yeah..I agree with kell.
....I won't drink beer because I can't have meth.
I won't do coke, or ecstasy.......and it gets offered here
plenty. orange juice won't do it......I want water. but
everyone is different.
...apparently, a lot of addicts do go to booze. in all
honesty. I started smoking pot at 14......I continued it
my whole life, with a couple of periods of abstinence.
when I quit meth I continued to smoke pot........I quit smoking
pot now.
I'm trying....I make it a week, and backslide, 3 days
...backslide but I'm trying.
...and I'm aware it's a trigger because of the lethargy
connected with it. pot is an addiction for me, like
cigarettes, and speed.
......so, I'm not REPLACING speed with pot and cigs.
they are other addictions in their own right that I have to work
on.

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